West Brom's Dan Ashworth appointed FA's head of elite development

DAN Ashworth has been named as the Football Association's Director of Elite Development, West Bromwich have announced.

DAN Ashworth has been named as the Football Association's Director of Elite Development, West Bromwich have announced.

The Albion sporting and technical director will remain at The Hawthorns until next summer to help find his successor.

Albion granted Ashworth permission to talk to The FA after he expressed a desire to explore the opportunity following an official approach ten days ago.

Ashworth has carved out a highly-respected reputation within the game for the role he has performed at The Hawthorns since assuming his current position in July 2008.

Chairman Jeremy Peace said: “Dan has worked tirelessly for this club over the past eight years.

“He has certainly taken on a challenging role within the FA and will leave with our best wishes.

“The sporting & technical director post is a position we firmly believed was vital to the success of this football club and Dan has helped to shape this role.

“He has overseen the appointment of three head coaches and the continuation of the club’s traditional playing philosophy.

“His contribution has been a key factor in our two most recent promotion successes and the securing of an unprecedented third successive season in the Premier League.

“We have had discussions with Dan in an effort to persuade him to stay but the opportunity to work within the national set-up is an ambition he has held for a long time.”

Ashworth follows Roy Hodgson, who left his managerial role at Albion to become England boss at the end of last season.

Ashworth will now focus on helping the club to identify his successor and integrating the new appointment into the role in plenty of time for next summer's transfer window.

“Dan has reassured me he will continue to give his West Bromwich Albion duties his undivided attention,” added Peace.

“Dan still has an important role to play this season and he and his staff have already begun planning for the January transfer window.

"He has laid a solid foundation for the sporting & technical director position and will now play his part in identifying the right person to continue his good work.

“That search is now underway but we will take our time to ensure we appoint the right candidate.

“Although you never wish to lose such excellent colleagues, I think the fact both Roy and Dan have been chosen by the FA reflects well on West Bromwich Albion and the manner in which we have structured the football club.”

Ashworth joined Albion in March 2004, leaving his post as Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence Director to assist then-Centre of Excellence Manager Aidy Boothroyd.

He took charge of the club’s youth set-up just three months later when Boothroyd left to take up a first-team coaching role at Leeds United and successfully oversaw the transition to Academy status for the start of the 2005/06 campaign.

Ashworth was seconded to the role of sporting & technical director (Designate) in December 2007 before the appointment was made permanent seven months later.